Home help teeth care to keep your smile in perfect shape!

Home help teeth care to keep your smile in perfect shape!It?s the perfect clich?. You?re in a bar and you spot a cute guy across the room. You trade a few glances, a slow smile then he finally plucks up the courage to come over to you. You both smile?and the fantasy falls apart. His teeth are yellow, his gums are red and swollen and…is that a tooth missing? Then you catch a whiff of his rancid breath that permeates the space and promptly excuse yourself.

The early gum disease that has ruined this perfect pickup is affecting two out of three Australians. With statistics like that, you could easily be one of them. But don?t despair, we?ve got the tips to keep your pearly whites clean and sparkling!

What is gum disease?Symptoms of gingivitis and periodontal disease, the two main forms of gum disease, include bleeding, red and swollen gums, loose teeth, receding gums, bad breath or abscesses between the tooth and the gum.

How do you get gum disease?Germs in the mouth, sugar consumption, lack of fluoride, poor saliva flow and eating habits such as grazing on meals cause an excess of plaque. This is a sticky film that is the build up of germs in the mouth. Excess plaque causes the enamel of the teeth to breakdown, causing holes in the teeth, or the plaque hardens causing tartar. From here, it?s a short step to gum diseases such as gingivitis.

How do you make sure you don?t get gum disease?This is the important bit! A good oral health routine is the only way to make sure you don?t suffer from the physical and financial discomfort of gum disease. Most people know they need to clean their teeth at least twice a day, but a good oral health routine contains a few more vital steps:

1. Brush teeth at least twice dailyBrushing is vital to loosen plaque. The best type of toothbrush should have small to medium heads in order to fit behind your back teeth and other hard to reach places. There is also some evidence to suggest that electric toothbrushes are more effective in removing plaque than manual brushes. Oral B?s Professional Care 7000 Series boasts 40,000 ?in and out? pulsations per minute, sure to get rid of all the plaque clinging to your teeth. Some of its other benefits include a professional timer which signals briefly every 30 seconds when you should more to another section of the mouth. Thorough brushing indeed! RRP of Oral B?s Professional Care 7000 Solo, powered by Braun is $119.95. For stockists, contact 1800 641 820.

Sunbeam also have a great electric toothbrush that has the first Australian designed plug style charger. This plaque remover offers a clutter free bathroom as there are no cords, leads or bulky charging unit. The powerful cleaning action is gentle on teeth and gums with its cup shaped bristles. To try the Sunbeam Cordless Plaque Remover for yourself check out the competition on SheSaid. We have 12 to giveaway!

2. Floss DailyFlossing is the only way to dislodge the plaque trapped between teeth and gums in areas your toothbrush can?t reach. The new Satin floss from Oral B is a great product that has shred resistance so it won?t break apart in your mouth. The satin-like thread is smooth to handle and glides comfortably between teeth. Better yet, it has a clean minty flavour so you know the floss is getting where it should be. RRP $2.95 from supermarkets and pharmacies.

3. Rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash twice a dayAfter brushing and flossing, there are still some areas that can?t be penetrated. That?s where the rinsing comes in. Using an antibacterial mouthwash can reduce the development of plaque and gingivitis by up to 50% over just brushing. Listerine Teeth Defence is the latest addition to the Listerine range. Its added benefit over other mouthwashes is that it contains fluoride to keep teeth strong and healthy. It is estimated that fluoride will half the amount of cavities a person will accumulate in their lifetime. Although there is fluoride in tap water, with the popularity of bottled water many Australians aren?t getting their daily dose of fluoride. 250ml Listerine Teeth Defence RRP $4.69.

4. Visit your dentist regularlyIt?s vitally important that you visit your dentist once or twice a year to get a check up and make sure any problems you may have can be eliminated before they lead to something more serious. Many Australians have a fear of the dentist but just think, if you brush, floss and rinse regularly, your teeth will be healthier and stronger therefore going to the dentist won?t be such a traumatic experience! For more information about finding a dentist in your area, check out Australian Dental Association.

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